Baling-press.



No, 736,496. PATENTED AUG- 18,1903. w. R. GOLMAN. BALING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1902. B0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Uivrrnn STATES Patented August 18, 1903.

P TENT OFFICE.

BALlNG-PRESS.

$PEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 736,496, dated August18, 1903.

Application filed August 16, 1902. Serial No. 119,951. (No model.)

To (0N, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM RICHARD COL- MAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Quincy, in the county of Adams and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful Baling- Press, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to baling-presses, and more particularly to whatis known in the art as a self-feeder therefor.

The object of the invention is to produce a simple, effective, andpositively operating form of feeding apparatus operated by the pitman ofthe press during a small portion only of the movement of the pitman inopposite directions in order that the hopper and feed-throat of thepress will be open for the reception of hay or other material during themajor portion of the plunger-stroke.

To the accomplishment of this object and others subordinate thereto theinvention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts to bedescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and embraced withinthe scope of the appended claims,

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a baling-pressequipped with my selffeeder. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View,partly in elevatiomof the subject-matter of Fig. 1, the parts of thepress and feeder being in different positions. Fig. 3 is a frontelevation of the press, showing the powersupport and the pitman insection. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the relation of the feedcam toits operating-roller and the pitman, the cam being shown at one limitofits movement in dotted lines; and Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation onthe line 5 5 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows.

Like numerals of reference are employed to designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

1 indicates a press-box, to which is connected the usual tubular reach2, at the outer end of which is located the power mechanism. (Notillustrated.) Within the press-box is designed to reciprocate a head orplunger 3, operated by the power mechanism through the medium of apitman 1. The general construction and arrangement of these parts isordinary and need not be further described.

Above the press-box 1 is located the hopper 5, opening into the pressthrough a feedthroat'G and having its front end open, except for a pairof stop-flanges 7, which project inwardly from the upwardly-divergingside walls 8. Immediately in advance of the hopper 5 is mounted a shaft9, journaled in suitable brackets 10, secured to the opposite sides ofthe box. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) This shaft rotatably supports a sleeve 11,having a pair of lateral lugs 12, to which are attached the arms 13 ofwhat I will term the feeder 14. The feeder-arms 13 are formed of barmetal, and to their rear edgesis secured a feed-plate 15, extendingnearly the full width of the Hopper-"aid coi'istituting the front -wallthereof when the feeder is raised. The upper edge of the plate 15 iscurved to form a beak 16, from which extends at an acute angleafeed-plate extension 17, disposed substautially at right angles to thefeed-plate and having its edge 18 curved, as shown. The extension 17 isbraced by a pair of braces 19, secured to the feeder-arms, and the endsof the latter are curved in correspondence with the curvature of theplate 15 to insure the formation of a feeder of light, but exceedinglyrigid construction. The feeder 14 is intended to be swung downwardly tofeed the hay or other material into the press-box from the hopper inorder that a maximum quantity of material will be added to the bale byeach forward movement of the plunger. For this reason the length of thefeeder from its axis to the extreme edge of the extensionli issufficient to close the feedthroat 6, and thus cause the entire quantityof material in the hopper to be forced with certainty into the press-boxas the feeder is swung down through the throat.

As 1 have heretofore stated, it is desirable to give the operator asmuch time as possible in which to properly fill the hopper. It istherefore necessary to provide mechanism for quickly operating thefeeder in order that its period of rest in the elevated or inoperativeposition may be of considerable duration. The mechanism for effectingthe quick movement of the feeder is an important feature of the presentinvention, and it includes what may be termed a feed-cam 19, positivelyconnected to the feeder and arranged to be moved from one position toanother by the pitman 4 during a small fraction of its stroke. The cam19 is bifurcated to define a pair of arms 20 and 21, separated by asufiicient interval for the reception of what may be termed afeed-roller 22, mounted at the under side of the pitman 4: (see Figs. 4and 5) and arranged to swing the cam and thereby operate the feederthrough the intermediatemechan ism. The mounting of the cam 19 includesa bracket 23, bolted or otherwise secured to the reach 2 and extendinglaterally therefrom. At the outer end of the bracket is located astub-shaft 24 in the form of a bolt constituting a journal for the endof the cam opposite the arms thereof and provided with a nut 25, bearingupon one endof a spring 26, presenting sufficient frictional resistanceto the movement of the cam to yieldingly retain the latter in anyposition to which it is moved. To the under side of the arm 21 of thecam 19 is pivotally connected the front end of alink or connecting-rod27, preferably a length of bar metal, twisted at an intermediate pointand having pivotal connection at its rear end with the short arm of abell-crank lever 28, fulcrumed at one side of the pressbox and havingits long arm connected by means of a link 29 with a comparatively shortcrank-arm 30,.extendinglaterally from one end of the sleeve J. When thecam is swung back to the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 4, thebell-crank lever 28 will be oscillated and will in turn oscillate thefeeder in a vertical direction to cause the descent of the latter intothe hopper and through the feed-throat thereof to the position indicatedin Fig. 2, while the movement of the cam to the reverse position (shownin dotted lines in Fig. 4) will effect similar movement of the feeder inthe opposite direction to restore it to the position shown in Fig. 1. Itwill be noted that the arrangement of the links, the bellcrank lever 28,and the crank-arm 30 constitutes a multiplying connection between thecam and the feeder in orderthat extended and rapid movement of thefeeder will be effected by a comparatively slight movement of the cam atcomparatively low speed. When the plungeris in its completely-retractedposition, the cam will be in the position indicated in full lines inFig. 4 and the feeder will be completely depressed, as indicated in Fig.2. As the plunger is advanced by the movement of the pitman in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 4 the roller 22, carried by the pitman,will swing the feed-cam 19 to the dotted position in Fig. 4, thuselevating the feeder. By reason of the multiplying connection betweenthe cam and feeder this complete retraction of the latter will beeffected by the initial movement of the pitman,which having moved thecam will continue to advance the plunger for the purpose of compressingthe charge of hay or other material previously fed into the press-box bythe feeder. As the feeder will be in the elevated position during thelarger part of the advance movement of the plunger,

the operator may be engaged in refilling the hopper while the precedingcharge is being compressed and during the larger portion of the returnstroke of the plunger, since it is evident that the feeder will notagain move down until the roller 22 again contacts-with the cam toretract it, and this will obviously not be effected until the plungerapproaches the end of its retractile movement. In other words, thefeeder is elevated during the initial movement of the pitman in onedirection and is retained in this upright position during the majorportion of the advance movement of the plunger and during a like portionof its return movement and is again brought down to feed a charge of hayinto the pressboX during the final portion of the return movement of theplunger.

In conjunction with my feeder I employ a flexible apron 31, designed toclose the feedthroat in rear of the plunger to prevent the hay frombeing packed down behind the plunger when the latter is moving forwardand the hopper is being filled. This apron is composed ofhingedly-connected sections 32 and 33, the former being secured at itsrear end to the top of the plunger and the other having connection witha pair of metal straps 34, mounted on a rod 35, carried by brackets 36,secured to the hopper. As the plunger moves forward the straps 34. yieldto permit the apron to be drawn taut in a horizontal position below thefeed-throat, as shown in Fig. 1. When the plunger is retracted, thesestraps restore the apron to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 2. Itwill bennderstood that when the feeder is retracted the edges of thefeed-plate l6 abut against the flanges 7 of the hopper, which latter areassisted in limiting the movement of the feeder by a yoke 37, secured tothe hopper and designed to receive the impact of the feeder-arms 13. Thepress is also equipped with the usual appurtenant devicessuch, forinstance, as the side checks 38 and the top check 39.

Briefly, the operation of the device is as follows: Assuming the partsto be in the positionsindicated in Figs.2and4of the drawings, powermechanism (not illustrated) will reciprocate the pitman 4 to advance theplunger. During the initial movement of the pitman the cam will be swungto elevate the feeder, and the feed-roller 22 will then move out ofengagement with the cam as the advance of the plunger is continued tocompress the charge of material. As soon as the feeder is elevated theoperator will begin to refill the hopper and the material will beprevented by the apron from dropping behind the plunger. The refillingof the hopper will continue during the compression of a charge ofmaterial and also during the larger part of the retractile movement ofthe plunger. Just before the plunger reaches the limit of its returnstroke the feed-roller will again engage the cam to throw it back to itsnormal position, and thereby depress the feeder to force a new charge ofcotton out of the hopper and into the press-box for a repetition of theoperation.

It is thought that from the foregoing the construction, operation, andadvantages of my self-feeder will be clearly apparent; but while theillustrated embodiment of the invention is believed at this time to bepreferable I wish to be distinctly understood as reserving to myself theright to effect such changes, modifications, and variations of theillustrated structure as may be fairly embraced within the scope of theprotection prayed.

Vhat I claim is- 1. The combination with a baling-press including apress-box, plunger and pitman, of a feeder, a feeder-actuating camoperatively related to the pitman for actuation thereby, and amultiplying-lever in the line of connection between the cam and thefeeder.

2. The combination with a baling-press including a press-box, a hopper,a plunger and a pitman for operating the plunger, of an oscillatoryfeeder normally constituting one end wall of the hopper and arranged tomove down into the press-box, a feeder-actuating cam disposed foractuation during the initial movement of the pitman in one direction andduring its final movement in the opposite direction, and amultiplying-lever included in the line of connection between thefeed-cam and the feeder.

3. The combination with a baling-press including a press-box, anopen-ended hopper, a plunger and a pitman for operating the plunger, ofan oscillatory feeder normally closing the end of the hopper andarranged to move down into the press-box, a feederactuating camoperatively related to the pitman to be operated during a portion of themovement thereof, a cran k-arm connected to the feeder, amultiplying-lever, and links connecting the lever with the feed-cam andcrankarm, respectively.

4. The combination with a baling-press including a press-box, anopen-ended hopper, a plunger, a pitman for operating the plunger and areach, of an oscillatory feeder normally closing the end of the hopperand arranged to move down into the press-box, a feederactuating camsupported by the reach, a roller carried by the pitman and engaging thecam, and connecting devices between the cam and feeder.

5. The combination with a baling-press including a press-box, anopen-ended hopper, a plunger, a pitman for operating the plunger and areach, of a feeder-actuating cam supported by the reach, a rollercarried by the pitman for operating the cam, a feeder normally closingthe end of the hopper and arranged to move down into the press-box, anda multiplying-lever located in the line of connection between the camand feeder.

6. The combination with a baling-press including a press-box, anopen-ended hopper, a

plunger, a pitman for operating the plunger and a reach, of. a bracketcarried by the reach, a swinging feeder-actuating cam mounted on thebracket, a roller carried by the pitman and engaging the cam, anoscillatory feeder normally closing the end of the hopper and arrangedto move down into the press-box, a bell-crank multiplying-lever locatedat one side of the press-box, and connections between the lever and thecam and feeder, respectively.

7. The combination with a baling-press including a press-box, anopen-ended hopper, a plunger, a pitman and a reach, of a bracketextending laterally from the reach, a bifurcated feeder-actuating cammounted to swing on said bracket, a roller carried by the pitman andengaging the cam, an oscillatory feeder normally closing the end of thehopper, a crank-arm connected to the feeder, a bell-crank lever mountedat one side of the press-box, and links connecting said lever with thecam and crank-arm, respectively.

8. The combination with a baling-press and its hopper, of an oscillatoryfeeder movable into the press-box and comprising a feed-plate normallyconstituting an end Wall of the hopper and provided at its free end withan angular extension, extending across the end of the plate to close thespace between the plate and the adjacent edge of the feed-opening as thefeeder moves down, and means for operating the feeder.

9. The combination with a baling-press and its hopper, of a shaftmounted at the lower front corner of the hopper, a sleeve mounted onsaid shaft, feed-arms extending from the sleeve, a feed-plate secured tosaid arms and normally constituting an end wall of the hop per, andmeans for operating said arms to cause the feed-plate to sweepdownwardly through the hopper and into the press-box in advance of theplunger.

10. In a baling-press, the combination with a press-box and hopper, of afeeder normally constituting one end wall of the hopper and comprisingfeed-arms, a feed-plate secured thereto, and a plate extension bent backabruptly from the plate and having its edge curved outwardly to engageand carry into the press-box such material as escapes the plate.

11. In a baling-press, the combination with a press-box and hopper, of afeeder normally constituting one end wall of the hopper, said feedercomprising feed-arms, a plate secured to the arms and curved to form abeak, and a plate extension extending from the beak in a planesubstantially at right angles to the plate, the edge of the plateextension opposite the beak being outwardly curved.

12. In a baling-press, the combination with a press-box and hopper, saidhopper being open-ended and provided with stop-flanges extendinginwardly along the front edges of its side walls, of a feeder comprisingswinging feeder-arms and a feed-plate secured to "the arms and extendingbetween the flanges of the hopper to close the end of the latter andretained in its normal position by the flanges, and means for operatingthe feeder.

13. The combination with a baling-press including a press-box, a hopper,a plungerand a pitman for operating the plunger, of an oscillatoryfeeder normally constituting one end wall of the hopper and arranged tomove down into the press-box, a feeder-actuating cam disposed foractuation during the initial movement of the pitman in one direction andduring its final movement in the opposite direction, and means forconnecting the feederactuating cam with the feeder.

14. The combination with a baling-press including a press-box, plungerand hopper, of an oscillatory feeder comprising a feed-plate normallyconstituting one end Wall of the hopper, and operating mechanism forcausing the feeder to move down through the hopper and into the press-box in advance of the plunger.

15. The combination with a baling-press including a press-box, plungerand hopper, of an oscillatory feeder mounted to swing from an axis atthe lower front corner of thehopper, and comprising a feed-plate whichnormally constitutes the front end wall of the hopper, and operatingmechanism connected with the feeder to oscillate the same and therebycause the feed-plate to move down through the hopper and into thepress-box in advance of the plunger.

16. The combination with a baling-press including a press-box, a hopper,a plunger and a pitman for operating the plunger, of an OS- cillatoryfeeder normally constituting one end Wall of the hopper and arranged tomove down into the press-box, a feeder-actuating device disposed foractuation during the initial move-.

ment of the pitman in one direction, and during its final movement inthe opposite direction, and means for connecting the feeder-actuatingdevice with the feeder.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM RICHARD OOLMAN.

Witnesses:

E. G. MOREHEAD, W. H. HOELSCHER.

